Two injured in fire that damages Halifax home

Firefighters put out a house fire in Halifax on Wednesday afternoon. (Photo Submitted by Frank Maltese)

HALIFAX -- Damages to a house caused by a fire on Wednesday afternoon are estimated to be approximately $150,000, while a resident and a firefighter both suffered minor injuries.

"(The house) was pretty much fully involved (upon arrival). The garage was pretty much burned down," said Halifax Fire Company Chief Wayne Courser. "The double wide trailer, next to the house, was really going."

The fire at 4343 Route 112 in Halifax was called in around 2:55 p.m. Investigators are still looking into its cause but it was determined not suspicious.

According to the Vermont State Police, the house and garage are considered to be a total loss.

Courser was not sure if the garage was attached to the house but it was located close to it. There were many tools in the garage, including propane torches and hand tools, he said.

While putting the fire out, one Halifax Fire Company firefighter was injured and transported to Brattleboro Memorial Hospital.

"(He) cut his hand on some glass," said Courser. "He's fine. I think he cut his thumb or something. It's nothing too serious. They gave him a tetanus shot."

One of the residents, John Platek, was taken to Brattleboro Memorial Hospital for minor burns as well.

The Whitingham Fire Department and Wilmington Fire Department assisted at the scene, where there were approximately 25 firefighters.

"We probably had it under control in an hour and a half because we had a lot of hot spots to wet down," said Courser.

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"It was getting toward 7 p.m. when we got it pretty much out."

He told the Reformer that it had been quite awhile since his crew had to fight a fire of this proportion.

At the same time of the call, there was another call coming in regarding a brush fire on Pennel Hill Road in Halifax. Keene Mutual Aid dispatched the fire department from Colraine, Mass., to it.

"We got some good guys on the department and some good neighbors," added Courser.

Chris Mays can be reached at 802-254-2311, ext. 273, or cmays@reformer.com. Follow Chris on Twitter @CMaysReformer.

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